I write on behalf of my client Silvio Zammit and refer to the article publishing the story and interview with Giovanni Kessler in The Sunday Times of Malta of March 22.
My client was greatly surprised to find out that Kessler, who had earlier somehow managed not to testify in Parliament before the Public Accounts Committee about the ‘snus case’, then give a lengthy interview to your newspaper.
Merit goes to your good selves for managing to lure Kessler to give the interview. One wonders whether permission from the European Commission was obtained prior to the interview being released.
Without delving into the issue further, you appreciate that it is rather frustrating for my client having to bear with all these stories, perceptions of grandeur on Kessler’s part and fabricated conspiracy theories at this stage, given that my client is still undergoing criminal proceedings, and thus making it imprudent from his part to join the bandwagon and give his version of events now.
However, my client wishes to inform your readers that Kessler’s version of events, and notably his interpretation, is all untrue and is being strongly contested in court.
Unfortunately for my client, the case is taking ages, not due to anyone’s fault except Kessler’s, who took over a year-and-a-half to honour us with his presence. Zammit will give his version of events when the legal proceedings are over.